BAY Area chef Jesse Cool and author Rose Castillo Guilbault will be two of the amazing and inspiring speakers scheduled for the second annual Women Seeing Beyond Today Conference being held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 25 at the South San Francisco Conference Center, 255 S. Airport Blvd. They are truly representative of the conference theme, “Women Rocking the World and Leaving a Legacy!”

A 30-year restaurateur, Cool is the owner of CoolEatz, the umbrella organization for her three organic restaurants: Flea Street Cafe and jZcool Eatery & Catering Co., both in Menlo Park, and the Cool Cafe on the Stanford University campus. She is also the author of five cookbooks, writes a regular produce column and has appeared on “The Today Show,” The Food Network,” and “BayTV’s Bay Cafe.”

Guilbault, vice president of corporate affairs and publishing for AAA of Northern California, Nevada and Utah, recently published her critically acclaimed memoir, “Farmworker’s Daughter: Growing Up Mexican in America.” The former KGO-TV editorial director, she has won numerous awards, including being named one of the 25 Most Influential Hispanics in the Bay Area. She heads the Commonwealth Club of California Board of Governors as the first Latina chairwoman.

Other speakers include San Mateo County Supervisor Adrienne Tissier; Pat Obuchowski, CEO of Invisionaria and conference co-chairwoman; and Melanie Dewberry-Jones, CEO and founder of Soul Purpose Coaching.

This conference is for women of all ages and backgrounds who are looking for changes in their professional and personal lives or seeking motivation to “rock their world and leave their legacy.” Besides various speakers, it will feature moderators, exciting exhibitors, raffle prizes and stimulating workshops such as “Financial Awareness: Women, Vision, & Legacy,” “Find Your Dream Career” and “Fabulous Tips on Networking.”

NEW HOSPITAL UPDATE — Carole Groom, director of Community Relations for Mills-Peninsula Health Services, will give an update on the new Peninsula Medical Center being constructed in Burlingame at the March 2 luncheon meeting of the Soroptimist International of Millbrae/San Bruno.

The event, which starts at 12:15 p.m., may be the Soroptimists’ last time at Green Hills Country Club at end of Ludeman Lane, as the country club is closing shortly for a major renovation. Future SI meetings will be held at the El Rancho Inn Terrace Cafe in Millbrae.

Cost: $26 per person.

For reservations, call Ursula Hackenberg at 589-2809.

JUST FOR GIRLS — Seven hundred girls from San Mateo, San Francisco and Santa Clara counties will have the opportunity to make hand lotion, be a disease detective or act as a crime-scene investigator during the “Expanding Your Horizons” Conference from 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 18 at Skyline College, 3300 College Drive, San Bruno.

Sixth-through-12th-grade girls are encouraged to participate in hands-on workshops to learn about career opportunities in math, science and engineering from professionals in the field.

The event, which marks the 26th time that Skyline has hosted the conference, will feature KPIX Chief Meteorologist Samantha Mohr delivering the keynote address. Other presenters include marine biologists, engineers, chemists and molecular geneticists during an all-day, hands-on exploration of science, math and engineering.

EYH is sponsored by Genentech, Inc.; Skyline College donates the facilities; and presenters and planners volunteer their time and expertise.

The $10 admission fee includes lunch. Registration is required by March 10 and can be made by downloading a registration form from http://www.skylinecollege.edu/eyh.

DONATIONS NEEDED — Catholic Worker Hospitality House in San Bruno, a refuge for 10 years for those in need, is asking the public to donate canned or homemade soup, coffee mugs, coffee, creamer, sugar, toilet paper, napkins, new socks and underwear or money for its ongoing expenses.

“Donations can be brought to the dining room at St. Bruno’s Church, 555 San Bruno Ave. W. between 5 and 9 p.m. any night, before 9 a.m. Tuesday to Friday, or before

Special thanks were given to former Daly City residents Rita and Robert DeLue of Hillsborough, who donated

$1 million towards the project; the city of Daly City for providing the land and allocating $2 million toward the community center as part of its five-year, $40 million capital-improvement program; and other important donors.

Numerous other individuals, city staff (especially retired City Manager John Martin), businesses and groups also were praised for their successful collaboration and hard work, which resulted in the long-awaited opening of the $8.4 million, 25,000-square-foot, multi-use facility. The three-story building houses a library; gym; health and fitness center; and arts and crafts, billiards/recreation, computer, and meeting rooms.

“This is truly a collaboration and a shared vision,” said Mayor Michael Guingona, who also was mayor at the groundbreaking in October 2002.

“Collaboration has been critical in this project,” said Mike Stallings, Parks and Recreation director. “As far as we know, this is the only collaboration of its type in the country.”

The 4,500-square-foot library, which replaces the 1,700-square-foot branch on Geneva Avenue, is open 30 hours a week and includes more materials, computers, and a large children’s area.

“How sweet it is … dreams do come true!” said Dan Daniel Dadoun, Mid-Peninsula Boys & Girls Club executive director. “I don’t think you’ll find a facility that has four entities involved. True friendships developed from this project.”

“Today we are opening the gates of this garden of knowledge, planting the seed of confidence, giving our youth the skill and the vision of success that they may carry to their community and to give back what they have learned here in making this world a better place to live,” said Joseph Keh, longtime youth and Bayshore community advocate.

After the Feb. 4 “soft” opening, two more events were held, on Feb. 11 to recognize donors, and on Feb. 18 for the entire Bayshore community.

Carolyn Livengood’s North County Reports appear every Friday and Saturday. If you have any news tips about North County communities, please call or fax

Around 5:35 p.m., CHP officers responded to a report of the incident in westbound I-580 lanes at Main Street. En route, officers learned a vehicle's driver said a person in another vehicle brandished a handgun and fired a shot.

In addition to evacuating 10 neighboring homes, deputies restricted pedestrian and vehicle traffic in the area while the sheriff's office bomb squad "safely disposed" of the explosives, officials said.